A LinkedIn Journey... The Power of Jerry Maguire

Admit it, we’ve all had at least one Jerry Maguire moment in our careers, the breakthroughs and the breakdowns, and what I mean by that is, when we’ve felt so passionately or strongly about something, we just have to get it out there, you channel the inner Jerry. The consequences being that people either think you’ve lost the plot or you inspire, the latter being the true objective. I’ve had many Jerry Maguire moments (mostly positive), in fact, I’m giving that fictional phenomenon a name, I think it’s an actual condition and I’m calling it, ‘Jerry Maguire Empowerment Syndrome’ or JMES for short. 

I find Jerry Maguire a hugely positive and empowering story… I hear what your thinking… and it’s nothing to do with a young Tom Cruise. I like the cleaver business angles, the relationships and ultimate triumph after unexpected adversity, I can relate to it, he’s so human, he just wants to reconnect and be inspired but he becomes inspiring.

I’ve been reflecting on my own JMES moments, like Jerry, I’ve had to walk through the office with a box, collecting belongings to sympathetic looks, the weight of angst for things left unsaid, talk about awkward as arse. I thought about the ‘who’s with me scene’ and Maguire lashing out “Let me just say, as I ease out of the office I helped build, sorry, but it's a fact.” with his memorabilia in a box, he looks back into his office, he goes to flick off the lights, not realising the lights are already off (relatable), and as he makes his exit, in an advancing state of depression and feeling slightly unhinged, he scoops an unsuspecting fish, ‘Flipper’ out of the office tank and then Bridget Jones grabs her stuff and goes with him.

As I waited in reception, the appointed bouncer appeared and greets me sheepishly with a rather pathetic looking box, my inner Jerry kicked right in, there was no way I was leaving without checking I’d got all my crap, nope, I was going to make it mutually uncomfortable. In a strange way, the box was akin to the 1998, Tracy Emin installation My Bed. Seriously, you could’ve left it in a room at the Saatchi Gallery, My Box by Lisa Riley, people would’ve been celebrating the metaphors and awarding it a Turner Prize.

Crappy wrapping paper awkwardly sticking out of the top, purchased for that last minute office birthday; my valuable business books, ‘Marketing for Dummies’ and the like, and as I nonchalantly peered into it, I thought is that it? Is this the sum total of my sweat equity, irreplaceable skills, unwavering loyalty and enduring success? A TOY PIGEON? Now named Flapper.

The toy pigeon was acquired from John Lewis as a prop for a promotional video, putting to one side that it was from the children’s section, I mean who’d by that for a child? The pigeon was also used at exhibitions to great effect, it was strangely magnetic. I’m glad it was in the box, it was a symbol of creative success, a little example of thinking outside the proverbial box and it made people smile.

I actually found it hard to make eye-contact with the box, but then I noticed a secret Santa gift that made me smile, Margaret Thatcher nutcrackers and suddenly, it reminded me of everything that I’m not and everything that I am, an Iron Lady, and off I went (flouncing actually) with my box and head held high.

According to Mr. Maguire, what happened to him was a moment of clarity, a breakthrough. In the film, Maguire rambles, “It was the oddest, most unexpected thing. I began writing what they call a Mission Statement for my company. You know, a Mission Statement, a suggestion for the future”. “I had lost the ability to bullshit.”

This leads me to another of my Jerry moments, it happened when I purchased everyone in the entire company, a copy of ‘Start with Why’ by author Simon Sinek. I wanted everyone to re-connect with our core company values, to use the collective feedback as inspiration to reassert vision and create a mission statement (there wasn’t one) to empower why we do what we do and included these thoughts with each copy…

Today, I have sent you a gift ‘Start with Why’ please accept it with an open mind and in good spirit. One of the reasons why I love working here is the collective sense of commitment, knowledge and especially loyalty shared by you, my colleagues, it makes me enjoy coming to work and what I do… almost every day (let’s keep it real).

Somebody who inspires and motivates me recommended Start with Why as a holiday read. It’s a story of intent, authenticity, loyalty and understanding. While reading it, I reflected on business, I visualised many parallels and opportunities, it made me want to share these insights with everyone, so in turn, we can share together our collective and thoughtful understanding of why we have success and what we need to do to increase that success.

The story is simple, it suggests that people don’t buy what you do, or how, they buy WHY - It’s our cause, represented by the company, the brands, the products and most importantly the people that will inspire loyalty and continued success.

You may not like to read, that’s OK, maybe read the jacket and pay it forward. Even if you just open up a random page, I’m sure there’s something you can relate to in this story. If you DO like to read, then I’m interested to know what you think and how you want to contribute.

As I look through peoples personal and business LinkedIn profiles, I see people very connected with their own why and very clear about their values, I believe sharing these personal motivations are important on LinkedIn. Businesses inspired and built by people with the mutual need to treat others, how you wish to be treated, these are the Jerry Maguire's of the world.

What you’re reading, A LinkedIn Journey, is an attack of JMES! Don’t get me wrong, it’s certainly not a bad thing, it’s a good thing, everyone should be more Jerry, as the copy guy acknowledges, “That's how you become great, man. You hang your balls out there.” but its what others do with it, or how they respond to your ‘Jerry moment’ that’s interesting and building a great LinkedIn profile means putting yourself out there.

In other news, I’ve now found my stride with the ‘recruiters’ you know the scene; “help me to help you”.

Come on Linkers, share your Jerry Maguire moments for us all to enjoy.

Reference: Jerry Maguire script at the Internet Movie Script Database.

According to legend, in January of 1991, a critical 28-page internal memo, written by the then head of Disney's film studios, Jeffrey Katzenberg, was distributed to his fellow executives in an effort to refocus their approach. Katzenberg was desperate to recapture the magic of old and rid the Disney studio of their extremely costly "blockbuster mentality." He called for Disney to return to its roots, less dependence on movie stars and spectacle, and more focus on storytelling. This absorbing, highly quotable memo was his mission statement. It was leaked and its subsequent circulation in Hollywood had a huge impact.

Jeffrey Katzenberg left Disney to found DreamWorks with Steven Spielberg and David Geffen. According to Cameron Crowe, Katzenberg's memo directly inspired Jerry Maguire's mission statement “The Things We Think and Do Not Say: The Future of Our Business” the full statement has been made available to read on Crowes website below.

www.theuncool.com/films/jerry-maguire/jerrys-mission-statement/